Former Vol turned Demon Deacon Chase Burns undressed one of the best hitters in MLB, and even Tennessee fans are clapping for him
Former Tennessee Volunteers RHP Chase Burns went viral on Monday evening after he completely embarrassed one of the best hitters in baseball.
Cincinnati Reds RHP Chase Burns isn’t the most popular guy in East Tennessee, but even Tennessee Vols fans are tipping their caps after what he did on Monday night.
Burns, who transferred from Tennessee to Wake Forest after the 2023 season, made New York Mets superstar outfield Juan Soto, arguably one of the best hitters of all time, look completely silly in the first inning of the Reds’ blowout win.
In the top of the first inning, Soto stepped into the box and called time just before Burns was about to deliver the first pitch of the at bat.
After Soto stepped back into the box, Burns threw an up-and-in fastball that drew an awkward swing from Soto (that’s being kind, it was an UGLY attempt at a check swing). Burns then threw two more up-and-in fastballs (one for a swinging strike and one that Soto took for a ball) before dropping a hard slider that Soto swung and missed at for strike three.
I mean, that’s just nasty.
And look, I’m a die-hard Mets fan. I’ll be in Cincinnati for Tuesday night’s game cheering for the orange and blue. But I also love competition. And I don’t know how you can’t respect the way Burns competed in that moment. It may have been against a team I’ve spent my entire life rooting for, but as a competitor, I can appreciate and respect what Burns did there.
Soto hit a home run off Burns back in May at Citi Field, but there’s no doubt that the former Vol-turned-Demon Deacon got his revenge on Monday night in Cincinnati.